STOJILJKOVIC WINNER PUTS SCARBOROUGH IN CSL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
A picture goal from a free kick by striker Aleksander Stojiljkovic of Scarborough SC had all the hallmarks of a winner following a sometime furious, but well played 90 minutes of CSL playoff soccer at Centennial Stadium in Toronto’s west end Sunday afternoon.
The winning goal, which came at 91 minutes, broke the 1-1 deadlock for a 2-1 final score in the CSL Championship semifinal between FC Ukraine United and Scarborough, to put the visiting Scarborough through to the final game against FC Vorkuta on this same ground next Saturday.
Stojiljkovic has mastered the dead ball before with similar result, but this left footer from 25 yards did appear to be something special while floating through the Ukraine United wall to enter the net just inside the right post out of reach of goalkeeper Oleksandr Popravka. With just a minute or so remaining in the game, the top-of-the-table Ukraine United team was all but eliminated from the championship.
Scarborough had opened the scoring at 68 minutes, a goal by Kavin Bryan who was fed a pass on the left wing to cut in and beat Popravka. Ukraine United recovered to tie the game 1-1 from the penalty spot following a hand ball infringement at 89 minutes. Midfielder Ihor Malysh made no mistake from the spot.
FC Vorkuta and Scarborough SC will meet for the overall CSL championship on Saturday, October 13, a 3 pm kickoff, to be preceded at 1 pm by the CSL Second Division Championship Final between FC Vorkuta B and the winner of the upcoming semifinal between Halton United B and Scarborough B being played Tuesday, October 9 at the Norton Field at Burlington, a 9 pm kickoff.
CSL CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE
Quarterfinals
SC Waterloo 2, Serbian White Eagles 1
Scarborough SC 4, Hamilton City 1
FC Ukraine United 0, Brantford Galaxy 0 (after extra time) FC Ukraine United won 8-7 on penalty kicks
FC Vorkuta 2, Real Mississauga 1
Semifinals
FC Vorkuta 2, SC Waterloo 2 (after extra time) Vorkuta won 4-3 on penalty kicks
Scarborough SC 2, Ukraine United 1
CSL SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinals
FC Vorkuta B 3, Brantford Galaxy B 1
Halton United B vs Scarborough SC B to be played on Tuesday October 9 at 9 pm Norton Field, Burlington.